BCDA: Wike’s ally sits tight

More than a quarter of a year has passed since the government announced the removal of Dr Dakorinama Alabo George from his position as Executive Director of the Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA). Despite this, George has not relinquished his role as the head of the agency. A recent visit to the BCDA headquarters in Abuja revealed that a portrait of George continues to hang at the reception area, alongside the President’s portrait.

A BCDA employee confirmed that Dr George is still employed by the agency, stating, "Yes, Dr George is still here as DG."

Abdulrazak Sa’ad Namdas, a former spokesperson for the House of Representatives, was appointed as the new head of BCDA in June 2026. However, Namdas has not yet taken up his position as he awaits his appointment letter from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF). He claimed that upon arrival, officials at the OSGF asked him to wait for administrative procedures to be completed.

Attempts to contact Mr. Yomi Odunuga, the Media Adviser to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and Christopher Ugwuegbulam, Head of Information and Public Relations at the OSGF, have been unsuccessful. The President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, had directed political appointees seeking to contest elections in 2027 to resign by March 31, 2026.

George, who was appointed on March 15, 2024, allegedly resigned to participate in the Rivers State governorship primaries alongside Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Kingsley Chinda, and Tonye Cole.

Despite allegedly resigning to contest the governorship primaries, George has not left his position. He withdrew from the primaries at the last minute to allow Chida, a supporter of President Tinubu, to become the APC candidate for Governor in Rivers. Sources suggest that despite his departure, George continues to control the agency's operations and has been overseeing key administrative activities, including procurement processes.

Two procurement documents were uploaded to the BCDA website recently, indicating that George remains in control of the agency's operations.